Can Cities Be Ecosystems? In Conversation with Dr. Stephanie Pincetl
What would it mean to design cities that actually sustain us?
In this episode, we dig into the hidden logic behind how cities are built and why so many of them feel fundamentally disconnected from the land they occupy. We explore how the rise of fossil fuel-powered development has shaped urban environments that prioritize speed, scale, and profit over resilience and community. Join us as we unpack how today’s profit-driven development model is fueling the housing crisis, particularly in California, and why affordability remains so elusive. We also dive into the concept of urban metabolism, a powerful framework that reimagines cities as ecosystems with flows of energy, water, materials, and life.
The Climate Dispatch Podcast, presented by Sierra Club Angeles Chapter and Stranded Astronaut Productions, covers the stories of the climate crisis – from celebrating the wins to breaking down our fears, all while sharing collective hopes for the future. Hosted by climate storyteller Tehya Jennett, we invite a range of guests including activists, educators, and scientists to share their local climate stories, wins, hopes, and issues integral to their communities.
